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Facelifted Kia Sorento in SA – Pricing and Specs

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The facelifted fourth-generation Kia Sorento has landed in South Africa, with the South Korean automaker’s local arm revealing pricing and spec for the updated model lineup. See pricing below. Image: Kia Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! A 2025 Top 12 Used Buys winner, the fourth-generation Kia Sorento received a timely update in 2023. Sporting fresh exterior styling and upgraded interior tech, the facelifted model lineup has now finally arrived in South Africa, with the three-strong range priced from a hair below R1 million. Related: Top 12 Best Used Buys 2025: Premium Midsize SUV – Kia Sorento Representing the ‘Bold for Nature’ pillar in Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, the fresh-faced Sorento’s revised front grille and bonnet, replete with 3D mesh pattern, and newly introduced vertical LED headlamps clusters, the latter incorporating with fresh daytime-running light signatures, lend the seven-seater SUV a more purposeful appearance. Roun...
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Volvo’s S40 Turns 30 Years Old in 2025

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Volvo is marking 30 years since the launch of the acclaimed S40, which was its first proper attempt at building a compact executive sedan.  Image: Volvo Looking for a new or used Volvo? Find it here with CARmag! Debuting at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, the S40 took Volvo’s trademark focus on safety and comfort and packed it into a smaller, more affordable package. At the time, it was a big move for Volvo since the brand was mostly known for big family wagons like the 850, but the S40 was aimed at a different market of people who wanted a more manageable size without giving up on quality. Under the bonnet, it offered a mix of petrol and diesel engines, but the standout was the T4. That version came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 147 kW and 300 N.m. It wasn’t just quick for a Volvo, it was quick, full stop. Zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds put it ahead of many hot hatches of the era. It proved itself in motorsport, particularly in the BTCC, where Richard Ry...
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Volkswagen’s Golf GTI Edition 50 Is Most Powerful (239 KW!) GTI Yet

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Volkswagen is marking 50 years of the Golf GTI with a special edition that also happens to be the most powerful production GTI yet. Unveiled over the weekend at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the Golf GTI Edition 50 is set to go into production at the end of 2025, with deliveries expected in early 2026. Image: Volkswagen Looking for a new or used Volkswagen? Find it here with CARmag! The most important news is that it arrives as the most potent factory-prepared GTI ever! Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 239 kW and 420 N.m. That’s a 44 kW jump over the standard GTI, and it edges past the Golf GTI Clubsport, which makes 221 kW. Power is sent through a seven-speed DSG transmission. Chassis changes include a 15 mm drop compared to the standard GTI, with further tweaks available through an optional Performance Package. That setup lowers the car by an additional 5 mm, stiffens the springs, and adds revised suspension mounts. Volkswagen says the adjust...
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July 2025 Fuel Price Outlook Expected to Worsen Amidst Middle East Conflict

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CEF-released mid-month data portrayed a marginal increase in fuel prices for July 2025, but with escalating tensions in the Middle East, with a full scale war on the cusp, those predictions are expected to worsen significantly. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! South African motorists should brace for steeper fuel bills in July 2025, with both petrol and diesel prices expected to rise more sharply than originally expected. The looming increase comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and volatile oil prices on the global stage. According to mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), under-recoveries currently stand at around 43 to 46 cents per litre for petrol and 69 to 71 cents for diesel. However, with global oil prices climbing rapidly, these figures are climbing almost daily, making it likely that the final adjustment will be even higher. Predicted July 2025 fuel price adjustment summary (Updated) Should these conditions persist, the antic...
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Alfa Romeo Dominates 1000 Miglia Podium With Past and Present Models

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Known as the most beautiful race in the world, the 1000 Miglia has become a staple for the wares of yesteryear to strut their stuff, but 2025 was the year of Alfa Romeo , with another podium finish. Image: Alfa Romeo Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Etched into the annals of automotive history and heritage, Alfa Romeo is one of many storied manufacturers that competed in the famed 1000 Miglia during its formal running. Now a regularity rally, it serves as an opportunity for the wares of yesteryear to sample the routes they once hurtled down, in a far more sedate manner. In this 43rd edition of the 1000 Miglia, the Italian automaker managed to claim the podium in several classes yet again. Related: Defender 110 Trophy Edition Spawned From Adventurer-Oriented Defender Trophy Team Villa Trasqua’s 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport, driven by Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli, claimed overall victory in what’s widely regarded as “the most beautiful race ...
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The A-Z of Chinese Brands in SA: Riddara

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With the influx of Chinese vehicles on the South African market, our overview of these often little-known brands will help you make sense of this new motoring movement – from what’s on offer to the exciting new models on the way. Today is the turn of Riddara. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Riddara Fast Facts Headquarters: Hangzhou, China Founded: 2022 SA lineup: 1 model Cheapest model: TBC Most expensive model: TBC Announced in April as the next Chinese brand to enter SA, Riddara aims to make a statement with its all-electric RD6 bakkie. Radar Auto , the parent company with strong affiliations with Geely, which, in turn, manufactures the RD6, offers the bakkie in both 4×2 and 4×4 trims, with power supplied through a 73 kWh battery. The range is slated at up to 424 km on a single charge. The 4×4 model’s dual-motor setup produces 315 kW and 595 N.m, with the 0-100 km/h run dispatched in a claimed 4.5 seconds. Enviro Automotive, the local dist...
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The A-Z of Chinese Brands in SA: Ora

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With the influx of Chinese vehicles on the South African market, our overview of these often little-known brands will help you make sense of this new motoring movement – from what’s on offer to the exciting new models on the way. Today is the turn of Ora. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Ora Fast Facts Headquarters: Baoding, China Founded: 2018 SA lineup: 1 model Cheapest model: Ora 03 (from R686 950) Most expensive model: Ora 03 400 GT Ultra Luxury (R835 950) A major step in GWM’s SA tenure came in late 2023, when it introduced the Ora electric range. The sub-brand came into existence as the Chinese conglomerate expanded its vehicle offering, with Ora a dedicated New Energy Vehicle platform. Dubbed the Good Cat or Funky Cat in other markets, the 03 was, at the time, the most affordable EV in the country. A 48 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery powers the entry-level model, while the 400 Super Luxury, 400 Ultra Luxury, and 400 GT Ultra Luxury...
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